Gwyneth Sings!

Posted on November 17, 2010 at 7:45 am

If you enjoyed Gwyneth Paltrow’s sensational appearance on “Glee” last night as the coolest substitute teacher ever, rockin’ not just a (sanitized) version of what the Cee-Lo song they call “Forget You” (fortunately, the lyric “If I’d a been richa, I’d still be witcha” survives) but “Conjunction Function” from Schoolhouse Rock, then be sure to take a look at this neglected gem, her performance with Huey Lewis in “Duets.” The movie is uneven but with a lot of heart, and Gwyneth, directed by her late father, Bruce Paltrow, is luminous and sings like a dream.

She’ll be singing again next month in her new film, “Country Strong,” as a country music star just out of rehab.

Related Tags:

Music Television

The Good Witch’s Gift

Posted on November 12, 2010 at 8:00 am

Fans of The Good Witch and the sequel will be delighted with the third in the series, “The Good Witch’s Gift.” Catherine Bell returns as Cassie Nightingale, the kind-hearted shop owner who always seems to have a touch of magic to help those around her see more clearly.

Cassie and her fiance, police chief Jake Russell (Chris Potter) decide to get married on Christmas eve, just a week away. As they try to get everything ready, complications include a lost ring, an overbearing planner, and the return of a bank robber Jake put in jail, bitter about the time he has lost. Jake’s children get into a fight and his father makes plans to move out. But Cassie can handle all of that and more with her greatest gift, the ability to make people find the best in themselves.

It premieres this Saturday at 8 (7 Central). Enjoy!

The Good Witch’s Gift

Worst Commercial of the Month

Posted on November 10, 2010 at 9:25 pm

Does anyone think it makes sense to have a commercial with a child telling you which SUV is cool? The only thing the Toyota Highlander ad makes me want to do is call child protective services to kidnap that kid for a deprogramming and a serious lesson in family dynamics and basic economics. I know that no child is in a position to buy a car, but this commercial is selling them something much more dangerous — the idea that material possessions determine what is “lame” and that children should tell their parents what to buy.

Related Tags:

Advertising

Happy 40th Birthday, Sesame Street!

Posted on November 10, 2010 at 3:36 pm

40 years ago today, I watched the very first episode of “Sesame Street” and I have been a big fan ever since. My dad, Newton Minow, helped the show’s creator, Joan Ganz Cooney, get the funding for its first season, and we spent many family dinners talking about how exciting and revolutionary it would be. But what made me fall in love with it on that very first broadcast was how much fun it was, how imaginative, how respectful of its audience.

Here is one of my favorite moments from “Sesame Street.” It still inspires me.

Here’s a classic moment:

And here’s a treat from the new season:

Wartorn: 1861-2010

Posted on November 10, 2010 at 8:00 am

HBO’s new documentary, premiering on Veteran’s Day, is the story of “the invisible wounds of war.” What we now call post-traumatic stress disorder was once called “shell shock.” Actor James Gandolfini, who produced Wartorn: 1861-2010, speaks to members of the military and veterans of WWII, Viet Nam, Desert Storm, and other conflicts to explore our growing understanding of the emotional and spiritual impact of battle.

Wartorn 1861-2010

Related Tags:

Documentary Holidays Television